Motion picture television system



Aug, 2, 1932. c. w. HOUGH 1,369,424

MOTION PICTURE TELEVISION SYSTEM Filed July 22, 1930 2 Sheets-sheet l .Ezaawl Amp/bigger:

INVENTOR Clinton l V. Hough BY fi ATTORNEY Aug. 2, 1932. c. w. HOUGH 1,869,424

MOTION PICTURE TELEVISION SYSTEM Filed July 22, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Receiver INVENTOR Clini'on W. Hough ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 2, 1932 UNITED. STATES PATENT FFICE CLINTON w. HOUGH, on NEW YORK, 1v. Y., AssIeno TO WIRED RADIO, Tumor NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or DELAWARE MOTION PICTURE TELEVISION sYs'rEiu:

Application filed July 22, 1930. Serial No. 469,724.

vision systems primarily intended for the transmission and reception of moving pic- 6 tures derived from cinematographic film.

One of the objects of my invention consists in providing a compact and simplified form of television transmitter and receiver adapted to reproducecinematographic effects at a distance. i l i Another object of my invention consists in providing a television transmitter for motion pictures in which the use of intermittent motions, such as produced by Geneva stops, is avoided.

A further object comprises producing television scanning means in which scanning holes arranged in a circle are employed in conjunction with continuously moving cinematographic film to reproduce the effect of moving images at a distance.

' A still further object consists in producing a television receiving system in which two-dimensional coordination is accomplished by the combination of an annular series of moving apertures and a moving re- I accomplish the above desirable objects in a novel television system in Which the images of continuously moving photographic film are scanned and reproduced by synchronized disks each having an annular series of apertures arranged concentrically with the center of the disk. 1

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the specification and in which like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of one emboditelevision system. 7

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the scanning disk employedin the transmitting apparatus.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the receiving or reproducing apparatus for use in conjunction with the transmitting apparatus of Fig. 1. 1

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of'the scanning ment of the transmitting apparatus of my disk employed in the receiving or reproducing apparatus. 1 V i F igs'5 is an elevation of acam used in the receiving apparatus ofFig. 3.

'Referring to Fig. 1, reel 1 and reel 2 are rotatably mounted in bearing members 3 and 4: respectively. These reels are of ordinary construction adapted to carry photographic films normally used in motion picture projectors. The bearing members 3 and 4 are securely positioned on opposite sides of housing structure 5. The housing 5 is divided into two compartments 6 and 7.

An idler pulley 8 is provided near the reel 1 to feed the film 9 through anopening 10 between the compartments 6 and 7. A sprocket wheel 11'is rotatably positioned near the reel 2 beneath the opening 10 so as to guide the film 9' from the opening to the reel 2. This sprocket wheel 11 engages with'the marginal perforations of the film 9 and regulates the rate of travel of the film as hereinafter described. A source of light 12 is provided within the compartment 6 in front of the parabolic reflector 13 which is secured to one wall of the compartment 6. The reflector 13 directs light rays from the light source 12 through an aperture 15 in the compartment 6 into the compartment 7 and upon the cathode of a photoelectric cell 16. The aperture 15 is substantially the same width as the image frames of the film 9. Condensing lenses 1 1 are positioned adjacent the lamp 12 to properly orient the light rays from the source 12, while a convex lens 17 is positioned in front of the photoelectric cell 16 to focus the light rays upon a desired point of the photoelectric cathode. The film 9 intercepts the light rays from the source 12 so that the intensity of illumination of the light rays falling on the cathode of the photoelectric cell 16 is variedin accordance with the density of the photographic deposit on the film 9. 1

A scanningdisk 20 is rigidly secured to the armature shaft'21 of a motor 22. Referring to Fig.2, it will be seen that the'disk 20 is provided with an annular series of apertures 23 concentric with the center of the disk. An aperture 24, considerably larger than the 100 .as to wind the filmthereon. travel of the film 9 is adjusted so that the film an arcuate path across the film 9 and, upon leaving the area of the" aperture 15, which corresponds with the width ofthe film 9, is

followed by a succeeding aperture. It will be noted that, since all of the apertures 23 are arranged in a circle concentric with the Center of the rotating disk 20, butone transverse path. Will, be scanned across the film.

To effect the scanning of the entire image frame on the film 9, it is necessary that the film 9 move longitudinally with respect to the arcuate path described across the film by the apertures 23. 7

To accomplish this movement, a worm gear 25 is rotatably mounted in bearing 26 and engages with a Worm 27 mounted, as shown, upon the shaft 21 of the motor 22. The worm gear 25 drives the sprocket wheel 11 by means of a chain 28 and intermediate sprocket wheels29 and 30,. A pulley wheel 31 is driven by the sprocket wheel 11 and engages a belt 32 which drives another pulley wheel 33 associated with the reel 2.. Rotation of the shaft 21 positively moves the film 9 in the direction indicated by the arrow 34 by means of the sprocket wheel 11, and also rotates the reel 2 by means of the belt 32 so The speed of 9 moves down exactly the width of one of the apertures 23 during the time it takes for the aperture to traverse the width of the film.

It will now be obvious that an image frame on the film can be scanned by the rotation of the disk 20 and the longitudinal movement of the film 9.

The photoelectric cell 16 is connected to an amplifier 35 and thence to any desired out put system, such as a space radio or wired radio transmitter. It will be evident that the two-dimensional area of each frame of the film 9 will be resolved by the scanning means into a linear series of electrical impulses produced by. the photoelectric cell 16' and governed in intensity by the photographic density of the scanned areas of the film 9.

The aperture 24 in the'disk 20, being greater in. area than any of the apertures 23, will allow a correspondingly increased amount of light to fall upon the cell 16 at every revolutionof the disk 20. This momentary increase of light will cause a proportional increase in the current passed'by the photomay be directly controlled as to speed by cur-.

rent controlling means, such as the variable resistance 36 interposed in the lines 38 extending to the motor from the input terminals 37. Lines 39 are connected from the lines 8 38 to the light source 12 and provide operat ing current under control of the switch 40.

Referring to Fig. 3, which represents the receiving apparatus of my television system,

a housing structure 45 is provided and has 30 two compartments, 46 and 47 A glow lamp 44, of the type ordinarily used in television receivers, is provided in the compartment46 in front of a parabolic reflector48. Condensing lenses 49 are positioned in front of the glow lamp 44 to properly orient the light rays originating from the glow lamp.

An aperture 50 is provided in the compartment 46 through which light rays are directed from the glow lamp 75 through a projecting lens 51 and upon a plane reflector 52. The reflector 52 directs the light rays upon an image screen, 53. The image screen 53 is substantially square ,in shape and may be composed of glass and have a rough finish thereon to render the same partly transluscent as in a photographers image glass. The lens 51 may be adjusted with reference tothe reflector 52 by means of a nut 54 which secures the stud 55 in a desired position along the longitudinal slot 56. a

A scanning disc 57 is positioned upon the shaft 58 of a motor 59. Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that apertures 60 are arranged in an evenly spaced annular series concentric. 1 with the center of the disk. At: one point in the annular series, of apertures, an aperture is omitted and an armature slug 61 secured therein. This slug is provided to synchronize the rotationof the disk'57 in time rela 115 tion to the disk 20 in the transmitting apparatus as hereinafter pointed out. It will be seen that the slug 61 is provided in the same location in the disk 57 as the aperture 24 is in the disk 20, the disks otherwise being identical.

The motor 59 is mounted upon standards 62 and positioned so as to center the disk 57 tures 60, therefore, successively define the light rays in a single arcuate path traversing the aperture 50. The light so defined is reflected by the reflector 52 upon the image screen 53 and describes thereon a single transverse path corresponding to the transverse path defined across the aperture 50 before mentioned.

The motor 59 is of a type similar to the motor 22 and is adapted to be maintained in synchronism therewith. The motor may be of the synchronous type adapted to keep in step with commercial light and power alternating currents, or may be directly controlled by means of the rheostat 7 O which is interposed in the power supply lines 71. A switch 43 is connected in the lines 71.

The reflector 52 is pivotally mounted upon a bracket 63 secured to one wall of the housing 45. A cam 64 is rigidly mounted on the shaft 58, as shown, and peripherally engages a follower arm 65 extending from the reflector 52 and integral therewith. A spring 66 holds the follower arm 65 continuously in engagement with the cam 64.

Fig. 5 shows the form of the cam 64 which is designed to move the reflector 52 so as to sweep the light rays directed therefrom across the image screen 53 during one rotation of the disk 57. This sweeping movement alters the angle of incidence of the light rays, defined by the apertures 60, at right angles to the path across the aperture 50.

It is evident, then, that the disk 57 successively defines the light rays from the lamp in a single transverse path across the aperture 50, while the reflector continuously changes the angle of incidence so that successive apertures, during one revolution of the disk 57, define successive transverse paths which are reflected on to the screen 53 in paths successively displaced in a direction at right angles to the transverse paths The rotation of the disk 57 in conjunction with the oscillation of the reflector 52 effects the pencil of light defined by the apertures 60 so as to completely explore the surface of the screen 53.

The television signals transmitted from the transmitting apparatus are received by a receiver and amplifier 68 and are thence directed to the glow lamp 44 and an electromagnet 69 positioned in front of the disk 57.

The receiver and amplifier can be selectively connected, by means of the switch 72, to either an antenna system 73, or to the power supply line 71 by means of the capacitative couplings 74, so as to receive either space radio or wired radio signals, respectively.

When it is desired to transmit the images of a film, such as film 9, from the television transmitter, the switch 40 is closed so that the power supply from the input 37 is connected to the illumination source 12 and the motor 22. The motor 22 is thereby set in rotation, and is maintained at a predetermined film 9. These light rays are defined in one transverse arcuate path by the annular series of apertures-in the disk 20. The film is moved downward in the direction of the arrow 34, by means of the pulley 11, at a speed proper to effect the complete scanning of the image frames of the film 9 by the scanning isk 20. The light rays defined by the disk 20 are varied in illumination intensity in accordance with the photographic density of the film 9. The variations of illumination intensity of the light rays effects the photoelectric cell 16 to produce an electric current having values corresponding to the photographic density of the film. These current variations comprise the television signals which are directed to the amplifier 35 and there transmittedthrough space or over wires in arwell known manner. It will be noted that once every revolution of the disk 20 a current impulse of increased value will be produced by the enlarged aperture24. This impulse serves to synchronize the transmitting and receiving scanning discs. I

To receive television signals and reproduce the photographic images of the film 9, the switch 43 in the receiving apparatus'in Fig. 3 is closed so as to start the motor 59. The switch 7 2 is then connected to either the space radio or wired radio input source, depending on whether the television signals are transmitted through space or over wires.

The receiver and amplifier 68 receive and amplifiy the television signals which are di rected to the glow lamp 44 and the electromagnet 69. The television signals then determine the illumination intensity of the light rays produced by the lamp 44 in accordance with the current passed by the photoelectric cell 16 in'the transmitter of Fig. 1. The disk 57, rotating in synchronism with the disk 20, defines light rays of substantially the same illumination intensity as originally defined by the disk 20. Since the apertures 60 in the disk 57 are arranged in an annular series the light rays defined thereby will be in one arcuate path traversing the aperture 50. However, these light rays are projected upon the oscillating reflector 52 which moves the light rays in another plane across the image screen 53 in accordance with the longitudinal movement of the film 9 in the transmitting apparatus. The reflector 52 sweeps across the image screen once each revolution of the disk 57 and quickly returns to initial position by virtue of the construction of the cam 64.

As before stated, a current impulse of increased value, called a synchronizing impulse, is transmitted once for each revolution of thescanning disk 20. This current impulse, being of far greater value than the normal television signals, serves to energize electromagnet 69. The electromagnet field thereby set up attracts the armature 61 to bring the disk 57 into perfect synchronism with the disl: 20.

By the foregoing procedure, the cinematographic efiects of the film 9 may be transmitted and reproduced. Since the film is moved continuously, there Will be a great saving in Wear and tear of the film, as Well as simplification of transmitting and receiving operations. it will be apparent that moving pictures in natural colors could be equally Well sent by employing any of the color photographic methods used in ordinary color motion pictures.

It Will now be obvious that the television system of my invention provides a simple and efficient means for transmitting images recorded on photographic film and that many advantages will be derived from its use. 5 Although I have shown a preferred embodiment of my system, it will of course-be understood that changes can be made therein Without departing from the intended scope of my invention. 1 do not, therefore, Wish to be limited to the foregoing except insofar as may be pointed out in the appended claim.

What I claim as new and original and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

35 In a television system, a compact receiver comprising, a container the interior of Which is divided into a first compartment and a second compartment, a source of light and a lens system in said first compartment, an aperture in said compartment opening into said second compartment, a motor in said second compartment, a scanning disk adapted to be rotated by said motor and positioned adjacent said aperture, an image screen located in the top of said compartment, a pivoted plane surface mirror in said second compartment and means operated by said motor to oscillate said mirror in synchronism With said scanning disk whereby light from said source is caused to traverse said screen in two dimensions.

CLINTON W. HOUGH. 

